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Dade Freeman's blog page for all the latest photographic news.

Wedding Fayre at The Hilton

Out of curiosity, I went along to a local wedding fayre held at The Hilton hotel in Brighton. The purpose was not only to see what the competition were offering but also to get an idea of how many brides were actually looking to get married. WOW! The hall was heaving with various wedding stalls and brides-to-be, being dragged closely behind them - the grooms.

So it seems people are still getting married and the market is crammed with people offering pretty much every service you can think of and then some. I saw a few fellow photographers peddling their wares, but nothing made me think "AHA!! That's what I'm doing wrong." In fact, it was encouraging to see what I was doing right. It was useful to gather literature from other businesses which offered services I may need or want to work with in the near future.

Selecting the 'right' wedding gown is possibly the most exciting of a bride-to-be's many decisions. And there were plenty of stalls offering all kinds of styles, shapes and sizes. The highlight of the event was the bridal catwalk, showing off the amazing dresses and suits available - the ladies looked stunning as they did their catwalk performance to a choreographed dance routine. Although, it was not very representative as they used slender models in every dress - that can make it more difficult for someone to picture themselves in the dress.

I was very surprised to see that there were about half a dozen wedding cars in the room - on the first floor of the hotel! However, given the fact they had so much space available, they weren't getting the attention they wanted or deserved, whilst the rest of the exhibitors were crammed into a small space.

Below are some of the vendors I think should get a special mention due to their unique qualities, impressive services and the fact they were so outstanding.

White Leaf Boutique - this independent boutique in Brighton's North Laine has some of the most impressive wedding gowns I have seen in a long time, ranging from modern to vintage styles.

Short Film Company - what stood out to me about these wedding videographers was that they offer an alternative take on the photo-booth - a confessional. It's a great personalised idea, it's like having a video guest book.

The Spinettes - it's better if I let them show you what they do best - enjoy!

It was quite an eye-opener and if I were the father of the bride, I am sure plenty of vendors would have happily convinced me how to spend my money, and a lot of money it would be too. It is a huge industry, catering to every whim under the sun, now I just need a way for those brides to know about me!